June 24, 1998

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Five women's track and field athletes have signed a national letter-of-intent to attend Wake Forest University on a track scholarship this fall, head coach Francie Goodridge announced. Sprinter Jennifer Hall (Norwood, MA / Norwood High School) comes to the Wake Forest program after an outstanding prep career where she placed 10th at the High School Nationals in the 400 meters with a time of 56.79. Hall set school records in the 300, 400 and 600 meters in addition to the high jump.

Ashley Steakley (Austin, TX / Westlake High School), one of the premier runners in the state of Texas, was a state finalist in 1997 and ranked among the top five in Texas in both the 100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. She was the district champion in both the 100 and 300 hurdles this spring and earned regional medalist honors.

Middle distance runner Valorie Waldron (Olean, NY / Olean High School) was the 1996 New York state champion in the 1500 meters (4:43.63) and runner-up in the 800 meters (2:14). Waldron placed sixth in the state cross country meet and was the Junior Olympic national champion in the 1500. Multi-event athlete Rachel Burns (Ann Arbor, MI / Walhalla High School) was an all state honoree in cross country and captured the state championship in the high jump. Burns set school records in the high jump, long jump, triple jump and the 400 meter hurdles. Lauren May (Nashville, TN / Harpeth Hall High School) was the Tennessee state champion in the 800 meters and was a member of the state championship teams in the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. May was also an all-conference honoree in cross country. All five athletes will join a Wake Forest cross country program which placed second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 17th in the nation last fall.